Can



July 2, 1946. R. s. SOLINSKY CAN Filed Oct. 24, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jaye/2% July 2, 1946.

R. s. SOLINSKY 2,403,030

CAN

Filed Oct. 24, 1944 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 305672 1? 50/2 2554? Patented July 2, 1946 can Robert s. Solinsky, Chicago, ni. Application October 24, 1944, Serial No. 560,096

11 Claims.

This invention relates to cans or containers and has particular reference to the combination of a container with a removable cover so arranged that the cover may be easily placed in its closed position to maintain a perfect closure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air-tight, water-tight covered container wherein the cover may easily be removed without injury to the cover or to the container so that the container may be readily opened and reclosed by the same cover which will each time effect a] perfect air-tight closure.

It is a further object of the present-invention to provide a container of the above mentioned character adapted to receive a removable closure wherein the container includes a seat for a yieldable gasket carried by the cover and wherein the seat on the container is a continuous surface free of any seam or seams.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings form'- ing a part thereof.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a, container embodying the present invention with'part of the cover broken away;

Figure 2 is a reduced scale front view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the lineJ-S of Figure 1: and

Figure 4 is .a view corresponding to Figure 3 and illustrating a modified construction.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the container, indicated in general by the reference numeral l, comprises a can of sheet metal, such as tin plate, which can has a cylindrical body portion 2 and a bottom 3 permanently secured together in a manner 'well known in the art. The cylindrical body 2 comprises a rectangular sheet of metal which is curved into 037- lindrical form and the opposite end secured together along a seam 5 of any desired form. An annular end member I of sheet metal, such as tin plate, is secured to the cylindrical body por tion 2 in any desired manner as, for instance, by a suitable seam 8, well known in the art. The annular member 1 is in the form of a sheet metal ring, having a fiat annular surface It) the outer periphery of which is joined with the cylindrical body by the seam 8. The annular surface It! is seamless around its entire circumference. The substantially fiat portion III of the end member I is formed at its inner edge to provide a short vertical wall ll forming a neck which surrounds and defines an open mouth l2 for receiving or dispensing the contents of the container. The upper edge of the wall section II terminates-in an inwardly extending curved part iii the top surface of which constitutes a seat for a cover sealing gasket, to be more fully described as this description proceeds. The inner edge of the part I3 is curved downwardly to provide a short cover guiding surface I4 and a smooth annular curl or enlarged bead ii.

The vertical wall or neck II has a plurality of nibs or outwardly extending projections ll formed therein. These projections are all at a uniform distance below the top of the annular end member and are spaced any desired distance apart, for instance, a fraction of an inch between the centers of adjacent nibs or projections l8. These projections are made by pressing or permanently deforming the sheet metal of the end member 1.

The container I. is provided with a flexible sheet metal removable cover 20. The cover comprises a, central panelled top wall 2| which at its outer or marginal edge is formed with an inverted U-shaped annular trough or channel 22 which extends around the periphery of the cover. The channel is defined by an inner channel wall 23, a bight portion 24 and an outer channel wall 25. The bight portion 24 contains a sealing gasket 21 of rubber or the like which engages the curved portion l3 when the cover is assembled on the container. The outer edge of the portion 25 of the channel is provided with an inwardly extending curl 28 which forms a continuous ring constituting the bottom edge of the cover 20. The insidediameter of the bottom of, the cover, measured at the radially innermost part of the curl 28, exceeds the outside diameter of the neck H by an amountwhich is a major fractional part of the depth of each projection l8. By way of example, in one construction the ring of the curl 28 cleared the vertical wall of the neck by approximately .04 inch whereas the projections I 8 extended outwardly approximately 1 inch.

To assemble the cover on the container it is merely necessary to slip the part 23 of the cover into the opening defined by the wall M, at which time the part 23 makes frictional engagement with the wall I around the entire perimeter of the opening. As the cover is lowered into. position the surface 30 of the curl 28 engages the projections l8. Upon the application of a downward force to the cover the projections 18 deform the wall 25 of the cover It, within the elastic limitsoithematerlaLs othatthewallfltendsto straighten out between adjacent projections II I and is flexed outwardly at each of the proiec tionslluntilthesuriaceslofthebeadllrldes down over and past the projections, 1at.- whl ch;

time the rim 2! oi the cover snaps its normal position.-

trated in Figure 3, with the earl a proiections It. Due tothe'smalliinclination ot. ,1

, i N which are .thecurl flthetension ;I-;I

a on to the slight out-- that portion 0! the surfaces of the oi the metal of the curl which is the ward flexing thereof tends to hold gasket 2'! downwardb' with apprecia l pressure against thetop surface i3. This maintains the gasket 21 seated on the top surface-II and making a p r-:

i'ect seal against 'outwar'd leakage 0! any oi-the acter, such asri'or instance; the-end or a'screw' driver, in the pontion' in Figure 3.

' One end oi the toolis underthe curl 2| and the tool is iulcrume'd-aboutthe top ofthe scam I by application of "force to the other end of the tool. The upward force on the curl 2| 'aso'aoso in the cover 20. The cover comprises a central panel topwall 2| which at its outer or marginal edge is'iormed with the channel 22' that around the periphery of the cover and is toiit over andembrace the bead 42 ct 'rne cha nel 22' is defined by the V the'inner oiwhich makesasIiding contactwith the l2 and above the bend to form abase for the -yielding rin gasket 21. The bight portion of the channel 22", indicated at 2!. merges'with a vertical-w'allfl' the lower end of which is curled as at 22.

' Inthe containeroi-mgureusitistobenoted that the curl 42 corresponds, functionally, to the part II and the part I 5 d the -container of Figure-3'. The inwardly curled bead"! contacts the inner-surface oi the wall-or neck ll so that when the container is inverted ,ior pouring the contents thereof, 1 little or none of the contents will be trapped within the neck of the container. In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described .a few preferred embodiments of my invention.

It is. however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise constructions here shown, the same being merely illustrative of causes the side 2| oithe cover to deform sum ciently, but within the elastic limit of the material. so that the bead passes upwardly oi the projections It. In this connection it is to be noted that the tangent to the curl 28 Births: point oi contact between it and the projection II is at an appreciable inclination to both the horizontal and the vertical. so that an upward i'orce applied to the bottom 0! the curl 2| by an opening tool will cause a spreading of the-'j'c'over part 25 at the respective projections lt in an outward direction an amount suflicient' so that the curl 20 can be sprung past the projections II.

In the operation'oi applying the cover to or removing the same from the container the amount of deformation of the cover in passing the'proiections it is such that the elastic limit of the materlal is not exceeded. As a result neither the cover nor the container is permanently deformed and the cover may be replaced and will the principles oi the invention. What is considered new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising a body wall, an end connected to said body wall and having an upstanding seamless open neck portion spaced inwardly from the connection between the body wall and said end, said neck portion terminating in an inwardly curved annular enlarged curl around the entire perimeter of the neck opening with the end of thecurl closed against the inner surface of the neck, and a detachable and replaceable flexible cover for said container. the inner side of the cover having a peripherally extending -channel, a sealing gasket in said channel, the

make a tight flt regardless oi the number or times movement between the suriace l3 and the gasket 21 while the cover is in place, thereby reducing the likelihood of the development of a leak past the gasket.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a modified construction. In this construction the end member ll, which corresponds to the end member TI 01 Figure 3, is secured to the cylindrical body in the same manner asinFigl-lre 3, and has the hills it formed therein the same as in Figure 3. The neck portion H of the end member ll has an ininner wall of the channel extending into and making a sliding lit with the annular curl and 'the gasket in the channel bearing against the top of the curl, the outer wall of the channel surrounding and being spaced from the curl, the facing surfaces oi-the neck and of the outer wall of the channel having interlocking means com prising a continuous inwardly projecting annular resilient curl around the bottom periphery of the outer wall of the channel, and a series oi spaced outwardly extending projections on the container neck engaged by the curl in the cover closed position, theproiecting curl on the cover flexing over the projections on the neck by the flexibility oi the cover when the container and the cover are assembled.

2. A container having an upstanding open neck portion terminating in an inwardly curved part around the entire perimeter of the neck opening, and a detachable flexible cover for said container, the inner side of the cover having a peripherally extending channel of a width greater than the width of said inwardhr curved part of the neck, a sealing gasket in said channel, the

- inner wall of the channel extending into and wardly curled enlarged annular. head 42- at the top thereof. The cover 2| of Figure 4 is-somewhat similar to the cover 2| of Figure 3. or in fact the same cover design may be used, dimensioned to flt. The essential diflerence between the cover 2| and the cover 2| is that the channel 22' formed inthecover 2| isnarrowerthanthechannel I2 making a sliding lit with the inwardly curved part of the neck, the outer wall of the channel surrounding and being spaced from said inwardly curved part of the neck,'the facing surfaces oi the neckand 0! the outer wall of the channel having interlocking means comprising a continuous projection the periphery oi one of said. mates and extending towards the other of said surfaces, and a series of spaced projections on said other surface and extending towards said first mentioned surface, said continuous projection and said spaced projections being in interlocking engagement when the cover is in its closed position, the projecting means on the cover flexing over the projecting means on the neck by the flexibility of the cover when the container and the cover are assembled, the interlocking means being spaced below the top of the neck and having cooperating smooth camming surneck, the channel being of a width substantially greater than the width of the inwardly curved part of the neck so that the outer wall of the channel surrounds and is spaced from the part of the neck that extends into the channel, the outer wall of the channel having an inwardly extending curl at its lower end which engages the under surfaces of said projections for holding the cover in position when the container and the cover are assembled.

4. A container comprising a body wall, an end connected to said body wall and having an upstanding open neck spaced inwardly from the connection between the body wall and said end, said neck portion terminating at its top in an inwardly curved part extending around its entire perimeter and forming the neck opening, said neck having radially outwardly extending projections below the top thereof and spaced from one another around the circumference of the neck, each of said projections extending along smooth curves free of sharp bends from the radially outermost portion of the projection to a merger with the rest of the neck, a detachable resilient snap-on cover, the cover having a downwardly facing channel around the periphery thereof into which the neck of the container extends, the radially inner wall of the channel making a sliding fit with the inside of the inwardly curved part of the neck, a compressible sealing gasket between the top of the open neck and the channel, the outer wall of the channel having an inward curl at the bottom thereof and extending around the periphery of the bottom of the channel, the radially innermost portion of the curl clearing the body of the neck but the amount of clearance space being less than the amount of outward protrusion of said projections, the cover curl being sufficiently resilient to permit deforming of the curl to clear the radially outermost portions of'the projections without exceeding the elastic limits of the cover material whereby the resiliency of the cover tends to restore it to its original size after it has been flexed past the projections, the smooth outwardly extending surfaces of the projections below the top of the neck guiding the downwardly moving curl radially outwardly against its natural resiliency during the cover closing operation until the radially innermost part of the curl' passes below the radially outermost parts of the projections whereupon the natural resiliency of the stressed cover forces the curl radially inwardly and below the outermost portions of the projections, the portion of the curl above the radially innermost part of the curl camming against the projections to draw the cover downwardly, the resilient gasket limiting the downward movement of the cover and being held in compression by the tension of the curl against the projections, the bottom of the curl of the channel terminating radially inwardly of the connection between the body wall and said end that is connected thereto and spacedfrom said end an amount sufficient to permit insertion of a pry-loose tool under said curl and fulcruming on said connection for prying the cover from the neck.

5. A container having an upstanding open neck terminating at its top in an inwardly curved part extending around its entire perimeter and. forming the neck opening, said neck having radially outwardly extending projections below the top thereof and spaced from one another around the circumference of the neck, each of said projections extending along smooth curves free of sharp bends from the radially outermost portion of the projection to a merger with the rest of the neck, a detachable resilient snap-on cover, the cover having a downwardly facing channel around the periphery thereof into which the neck of the container extends, the radially inner wall of the channel making a sliding fit with the inside of the inwardly curved part of the neck, a compressible sealing gasket between the top of the open neck and the channel, the outer wall of the channel having an inward curl at the bottom thereof and extending around the periphery of the bottom of the channel, the radially innermost portion of the curl clearing the body of the neck but the amount of clearance space being less than the amount of outward protrusion of said projections, the cover curl being sufiiciently resilient to permit deforming of the curl to clear the radially outermost portions of the projections without exceeding the elastic limits of the cover material whereby the resiliency of the cover tends to restore it to its original size after it, has been flexed past the projections, the smooth outwardly extending surfaces of the projections below the top of the neck guiding the downwardly moving curl radially outwardly against its natural resiliency during the cover closing operation until the radially innermost part of the curl passes below the radially outermost parts of the projections whereupon the natural resiliency of the stressed cover forces the curl radially inwardly and below the outermost portions of the projections, the portion of the curl above the radially innermost part of the curl camming against the projections to draw the cover downwardly, the resilient gasket limiting the downward movement of the cover and being held in compression by' the tension of the curl against the projections,

6. A container having an upstanding open neck having radially outwardly extending projections below the top thereof and spaced from one another around the circumference of the neck, each of said projections extending upwardly from the radially outermost portion of the projection to a merger with the rest of the body of the neck substantially below the top of the neck, a detachable resilient snap-on cover, the cover having a downwardly facing channel around the periphery thereof into which the neck of the container extends, the radially inner wall of the channel making a sliding fit inside of the neck, the outer wall of the channel having an inward curl at the bottom thereof and extending around the periphery of the bottom of the channel, the radially innermost portion of the curl clearing the body of the neck but the amount of clearance space being less than the amount of outward protrusion of said projections, the cover curl being sufliciently resilient to permit deforming of the curl to clear the radially outermost portions of the projections without exceeding the elastic limits of the cover material whereby the resiliency of the cover tends to restore it to its original size after it has been flexed past the projections, the smooth outwardly extending surfaces of the projections below the top of the neck guiding the downwardly moving curl radially outwardly against its natural resiliency during the cover closing operations until the radially innermost part of the curl passes below the radially outermost parts of the projections whereupon the natural resiliency of the stressed cover forces the curl radially inwardly and below the outermost portions of the projections, a portion of the curl camming against the projections to draw the cover downwardly, the cover being held on the container by the tension of the curl against the projections.

'7. A container having an upstanding open neck having radially outwardly extending projections below the top thereof and spaced from one another around the circumference of the neck, each of said projections extending upwardly from the radially outermost portion of theprojection to a merger with the rest of the body of the neck substantially below the top of the neck, a detachable resilient snap-on cover, the cover having a downwardly facing channel around the periphery thereof into which the neck of the container extends, the outer wall of the channel having an inward curl at the: bottom thereof and extending around the periphery of the bottom of the channel, the radially innermost portion of the curl clearing the body of the neck but the amount of clearance space being less than the amount of outward protrusion of said projections, the cover curl being sufliciently resilient to permit deforming of the curl to clear the radially outermost portions of the projections without exceeding the elastic limits of the cover material whereby the resiliency of the cover tends to restore it to its original size after it has been flexed past the projections, the smooth outwardly extending surfaces of the projections below the top of the neck guiding the downwardly moving curl radially outwardly against its natural resiliency during the cover closing operation until the radially innermost part of the curl passes below the radially outermost parts of the projections whereupon the natural resiliency of the stressed cover forces the curl radially inwardly and below the outermost portions of the projections, a portion of the curl camming against the projections to draw the cover downwardly, the cover being held on the container by the tension of the curl against the projections.

of the channel having interlocking projecting means substantially below the top of the neck and comprising a continuous projection around one of said surfaces and extending towards the ing a downwardly facing channel around the periphery thereof into which the neck extends, the radially inner wall of the channel making a sliding friction lit with the inside of the neck opening, the radially outer wall of the channel surrounding and being spaced from the neck. the facing surfaces of the neck and the outer wall other of said surfaces, and a series of spaced projections on said other surface and extending towards said one surface, theinterlocking projecting means on the neck being located below the top of the neck and merging with the portion of the neck thereabove along smooth surfaces which contact with and stretch the projecting means on the cover radially outwardly against the natural resiliency of the cover during the cover closing operation, the stretch being within the elastic limit of the cover material whereby when the radially innermost part of the projecting means on the cover passes below the radially outermost part of the projecting means on the neck the natural resiliency of the stretched cover forces the cover interlocking projecting means downwardly of the cooperating projecting means on the neck to secure the cover in place.

9. A container having an upstanding open neck and a detachable flexible cover, said cover having a downwardly facing channel around' the periphery thereof into which the neck extends. the radially outer wall of the channel surrounding and being spaced from the neck, the facing surfaces of the neck and the outer wall of the channel having interlocking projecting means substantially below the top of the neck and comprising a continuous projection around one of said surfaces and extending towards the other of said surfaces, and a series of spaced projections on said other surface and extending towards said one surface, the interlocking projecting means on the neck being located below the top of the neck and merging with the portion of the neck thereabove along smooth surfaces which contact with and stretch the projecting means on the cover radially outwardly against the'natural resiliency of the cover during the cover closing operation, the stretch being within the elastic limit of the cover material whereby when the radially innermost part of the projecting means on the cover passes below the radially outermost part of the projecting means on the neck the natural resiliency of the stretched cover forces the cover interlocking projecting means downwardly of the cooperating projecting means on the neck to secure the cover in place.

10. A container comprising a body wall, an end the connection between the body wall and said end, said neck having radially outwardly extending projections below the top thereof and spaced from one another around the circumference of the neck, the distance between adjacent projections being substantially greater than the amount of radially outward protrusion of each projection and than the arcuate width of each projectiomeach of said projections extending along smooth curves free of sharp bends from the radially outermost P r ion of the projection to a merger with the rest of the body of the neck, adetachable resilient snap-on cover, the cover having a downwardly extending flange around the periphery thereof into which the neck of the, container extends, a compressible sealing gasket between the top of the neck and the cover. the flange having an inward curl at the bottom thereof and extending around its entire periphery, the radially innermost portion of the curl clearing the body of the neck but the amount of clearance space being less than the amount of outward protrusion of said projections, the cover curl being sufliciently resilient to permit deforming of the curl to clear the radially outermost portions of the projections without exceeding the elastic limits of the cover material whereby the resiliency of the cover tends to restore it to its original size after it has been flexed past the projections, the smooth outwardly extending surfaces of the projections serving to guide the downwardly moving curl radially outwardly against its natural resiliency during the cover closing operation until the radially innermost part of the curl passes below the radially outermost parts of the projections whereupon the natural resiliency of the stressed cover forces the curl radially inwardly and below the outermost portions of the cover, the portion of the curl above the radially innermost part of the curl camming against the projections to draw the cover downwardly, the resilient gasket limiting the downward movement of the cover and being held in compression by the tension of the curl against the projections, the bottom of the curl terminating radially inwardly of the connection between the body wall and said end that is connected thereto and spaced from said end an amount suflicient to permit insertion of a pryloose tool under said curl and fulcruming on said connection for prying the cover from the neck.

11. A container having an upstanding open neck, said neck having radially outwardly extending projections below the top thereof and spaced from one another around the circumference of the neck, the distance between adjacent projections being substantially greater 10 than the amount of radially outward protrusion of each projection and than the arcuate width of each projection, each of said projections extending along smooth curves free of sharp bends from the radially outermost portion of the projection to a'merger with the rest of the body of the neck, a detachable resilient snap-on cover, the cover having a, downwardly extending flange around the periphery thereof into which the neck of the container extends, the flange having an inward curl at the bottom thereof and extending around its entire periphery, the radially innermost portion of the curl clearing the body of the neck but the amount of clearance space being less than the amount of outward protrusion of said projections, the cover curl being sufliciently resilient to permit deforming of the curl to clear the radially outermost portions of the projections without exceeding the elastic limits of the cover material whereby the resiliency of the cover tends to restore it to its original size after it has been flexed past the projections, the smooth outwardly extending surfaces of the projections serving to guide the downwardly moving curl radially outwardly against its natural resiliency during the cover closing operation until the radially innermost part of the curl passes below the radially outermost parts of the projections whereupon the natural resiliency of the stressed cover forces the curl radially inwardly and below the outermost portions of the cover, the portion of the curl above the radially innermost part of the curl camming against the projections to draw the cover downwardly, the cover being held in compression by the tension of the curl against the projections.

ROBERT S. SOLINSKY. 

